Tape measure



Patented May 20, 1924.

UNITED STATES JOHN n. EoRBEs, 0E SAN EEANo'Isoo, CALIFORNIA.

TAPE MEASURE.

'application Vfuea February 7, 1921. serial Nt. 443,049.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN D. Fonns, a subject of theV King of England, land aresiy dent of San Francisco, countyrof Sanv Fran, cisco, State of California, have invented a new and useful Tape Measure, of which the following is a specification.`

The present invention relates to 'tapev measures and its object is to provide a tape measure that vcan beconveniently used in any corner, on the inside of an arch or any other place difficult of access for the ordinary tape on account of the casing being in the way. A further object is to provide a tape from which the distance measured in those corners or arches can be read off directly without any figuring, adding or subtracting, and from which also any intermediate distances can be read off directly.

. I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 represents a plan view of the casing containing the tape; Figure 2 a side View of the same; Figure 3 a sectional view along line 3-3'of Figure 2; Figure 4 a sectional view along line 4--4 of Figure 1; Figure 5 an end view of the casing and Figure 6 an illustration of the tape in use.

Referring to the drawing more particularly the hollow casing (1), heel-shaped and flat, supports, in the central part of its walls, the pin (2) having the spool (3) fastened thereto. The latter is adapted to be rotated within the casing, by means of the outside handle (6), and has fastened to it one end of the tape (7). The other end of the tape (7) is provided with the customary link (8). I prefer to use for my purposes a continuous reading tape, that is, a tape graduated in such a manner that the foot distance from the end of the tape is indicated on each inch subdivision, which makes it possible to ascertain the exact distance from ythe end of the tape, although only a small part of that part of the tape from which the distance is to be read is visible to the eye.

Like in any other tape measure, the tape (7) is adapted to be wound on the spool (5), so that the whole tape may be enclosed in the casing. To use the tape, it is stretched between the two points defining the distance to be measured so that the end of the link rests on one of the points, when the point on the tape registering with the other point of the distance to be measured will disclose the length of the same.

Thus far my tape works'like any ordinary tape and my attachment does not in the least interfere with this way of measuring, even when my attachment isK to be used.

to distinguish `my invention heretofore patented. Y

Referring to my particular feature now, it will be seen that from the spool the tape is led through the-passage (15) defined Vby two circular guides (9) and (10). The guide V(9) is a part of the casing and the guide (10) runs'inside of guide (9) and is parallel tothe same. It accompanies guide I wish tov point out thls feature particularly in order from others v (9) for about threeequarters of a circle,

omitting, as shown in Figure 3, the upper right-hand quarter. The outer guide, being at the same time a part of the casing, is

provided with an Opening (12) which ex poses part of the tape inside the casing to the eye. This opening extends substantially through the lower right-hand quarter of the circle, as shown in Figure (3) and should be long enough to expose Va'sufiicient part of the tape to enable the party using it to ascertain the exact reading of the tape, that is the feet as well as the inches. In a continuous reading tape a ldistance somearound the inner guide, I definetwo points on the latter guide, point A being perpendicularly over the center of the spool (Figure 3), the other point being within ythe opening (12). and its location being disclosed to the eye by a registering mark B on the outside of the casing asshown in Figure (2). tance between A and B over the surface of the inner guide cannot change, neither can the length of the tape measured over the same. y n

Since the casing itself does not adapt itself to its use in narrow places, arches, corners, etc., I provide a collapsibleA extension (16) pivoting on a pin (17) supported in the casing. A spring (1:8) pivoted'n the casing and bearing on the square head (19) of the extension forces the extension from any slanting position into a horizontal or vertical position. The extension may be collapsed so as to fit inside the casing or it may be'spread so as to extend from the casing in the opposite direction from that of the tape, as shown in the dotted lines in Figure (3), the tape and the extension prac- It is evident that as the distically forming a tangent on the circle defined by the inner guide. The end of the extension is marked C and the length of the extension is so defined that the distance A-C is exactly equal to the distance A-B measured over the inner guide, so that it is al.

Ways possible to read at B the exact distance between C and the opposite end 78- of the tape. t is needless to say that the extension C A Will reach yinto practically any corner, arch or other inside rdifficult of access and thatrit may be made of material suniciently flexible that it can be used With ease on curved surfaces.

As shown in Figure 6, my attachment doesnot interfere With the measurement of circular guide Within the casing adapted to lead the tape out of the casing, a tangential extension of the tape mounted on the casing and means on the casing visible from the outside thereof showing the length of the extension on the tape that remains in the casing vso that the total distance between the end of the tape and the end of the extension s disclosed on the tape by said means.

2. In a tape measure comprisinga casing, a drum rotatable Within the same and a tape adapted to be. Wound on the same, a circular guide Within the casing adapted to lead the tapey out yof the casing, a collapsible tan'- gential' extension of the tape mounted on the casing and means 'on the casing Visblefrom the outside `thereof showing the length Vof the extension on the tape that remains in the casing so that the total distance between the end of the tape and the end of the extension is disclosed on the vtape by said means.

JOHN D. FORBES. 

